11/07/2007

How to Treat Coughing in your Dog or Cat

Coughing in your Pet

*{{Cough, cough}}*, surprised or not, your beloved four-legged friend can also experience coughing. They aren't exempt. A cough usually happens not as an illness of its own, but as a symptom of another condition or problem.

A cough is a sudden and noisy act of expiration that expels air from the lungs. A defense mechanism and natural reflex, coughing serves to expel foreign matter or accumulated secretions from the airways. In many cases, this reflex occurs in response to an irritation or inflammation of the mucus lining of the trachea or lungs. Sometimes a bout of coughing can lead to retching and even vomiting.

A canine or feline cough can manifest itself in several different forms, including dry, hacking, wheezy, moist, or weak. Dry canine coughs can be associated with tonsillitis or kennel cough, while a mostly nocturnal cough accompanied by difficulty with breathing may be signs of a serious heart condition. As a result, a dog's cough can be a symptom of a multitude of different medical conditions and in many cases it will be just one of several warning signs. Depending upon the cause of the canine cough, cough medicine may be an effective treatment on its own, or it may need to be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. No matter what type of cough your dog is displaying, however, he or she should be examined by a veterinary doctor.

Symptoms of Canine or Feline Coughing or Breathing Problems

Apparent sore throat
Coughing up blood
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Possible discharge from your dog's or cat's nose or eyes
Soft, moist cough accompanied by symptoms (e.g. fever, mucous discharge from nasal passages)
Your cat or dog coughs up a foamy white discharge
Your cat or dog has a persistent dry cough

When in doubt, always make sure to bring your pet to your vet for a full check-up. If you would like to see excellent results, try PetWellbeing's all natural remedy.

An all-natural anti-inflammatory, antibiotic formulation that relieves respiratory conditions to soothe your cat's or dog's cough.

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